Another basketball game just ended. So that meant Kareem Abdul-Jabbar dominated again with his sharp footwork, high-arching skyhook and imposing height.

This game took place well before Abdul-Jabbar won multiple championships with UCLA and the Lakers. It also happened when Abdul-Jabbar was known as Lew Alcindor. As a high school student in Harlem, N.Y., he and his friends just finished a pick-up basketball game and took the subway back home. That ride back to Harlem, though, led them to a violent protest.

Unlike how he used his physical attributes to his advantage on the court, Abdul-Jabbar saw how other physical traits became a source of conflict off the court.

“I was suddenly running for my life, cursing the fact that I was so tall and therefore more of a target,” Abdul-Jabbar said. “This awoke me to how much being black was a constant physical threat to my life.”

For someone “who was called all the popular racial slurs from the time I was in middle school until today,” that particular moment still struck Abdul-Jabbar nearly six decades later.

The incident also partly explained Abdul-Jabbar’s passion for political and social activism with UCLA, the Lakers and lately as a published author. After admiring athletes (Jackie Robinson, Muhammad Ali) and civil rights leaders (Dr. Martin Luther King, Malcom X) for their “courage” in addressing racial and social inequalities, Abdul-Jabbar then became inspired to do the same.

“It wasn’t enough to talk about what was right,” Abdul-Jabbar said. “They took action, putting their own safety in peril in order to do the right thing. Their example of enduring so much public hatred yet still forging head to further the cause of equality made me realize I would be ashamed if I didn’t do my part.”

Abdul-Jabbar did not waste any time.

On June 4, 1967, Abdul-Jabbar joined Jim Brown, Bill Russell and Willie Davis to support Ali’s refusal to enter the Army. Abdul-Jabbar participated in a protest at UCLA after Dr. King’s assassination. Abdul-Jabbar boycotted the 1968 Olympics because former IOC president Avery Brundage allowed German dictator Adolf Hitler not to field any Jewish athletes in the 1936 Games. After the former Lew Alcindor changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and converted to Islam in 1971, he has since addressed misconceptions both about the Muslim faith and culture.

Abdul-Jabbar also has raised funds to benefit science and math education through his “Skyhook Foundation.” In 2012, he became a cultural ambassador for the U.S. State department. He had campaigned for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. Abdul-Jabbar has written several books, including his recently released, “Writings on the Wall – Searching for a New Equality Beyond Black and White.”

Because of those efforts, UC Berkeley’s professor emeritus of sociology Dr. Harry Edwards put Abdul-Jabbar’s advocacy “right at the center” of political and social activism.

“He has always been willing to step up even while he was playing,” Edwards said. “I was always impressed by how intelligent he is.”

Yet, Edwards believed some of those causes did not initially spark as much attention because of his introverted nature.

“When he did speak, it was very much to the point and very articulate,” Edwards said. “That frightened a lot of people in the media and was off-putting to a lot of folks.”

Former Lakers teammate Mychal Thompson called Abdul-Jabbar “one of the more underappreciated and least noticed civil rights activist heroes in this country.” Despite seeing Abdul-Jabbar “read books about historical figures and historical authors I never heard of” on the bus and in the locker room, that did not spark much conversation among teammates.

“I don’t think we were on his level mentally,” Thompson said, laughing. “He didn’t want to talk down to us. He just left us in our own menial worlds.”

The current Lakers also praised Abdul-Jabbar’s stature as the NBA’s long-time leading scorer and expressed appreciation for recently offering tips on how to maximize longevity. Yet, player accounts said Abdul-Jabbar has not spoken about his political activism. Nonetheless, Lakers forward Metta World Peace became intrigued, when he learned about Abdul-Jabbar’s various initiatives from a reporter. World Peace also offered rave reviews about Abdul-Jabbar’s documentary “On the Shoulders of Giants,” which detailed the Harlem Rens’ all-black basketball team from the 1920’s through 1940’s.

“You can be outspoken and not make the difference. Or you can do things behind the scenes and make a big difference,” World Peace said. “I don’t know how to measure it and what’s making an impact.”

As for Abdul-Jabbar, he offered a mixed report card on his various efforts.

He believed he made “probably very little impact” by boycotting the 1968 Olympics, though he found the protest important on principle. Abdul-Jabbar recalled receiving “pretty predictable reactions” regarding his protest about Dr. King’s assassination, saying “those who were for civil rights appreciated my participation and those who were against civil rights thought I should keep my mouth shut and stick to basketball.” Abdul-Jabbar has made tangible progress with his math and science initiatives, with his foundation sponsoring five-day camps in the Angeles National Forest for about 22,000 kids a year from Los Angeles schools.

Meanwhile, the former Lew Alcindor encountered numerous challenges when he changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and converted to Islam in 1971. Although he explained his conversion as “an attempt to get back to my cultural roots,” Abdul-Jabbar initially “alienated my parents” before eventually reconciling. Since then, Abdul-Jabbar has brought more awareness to the Muslim faith.

“Those hungry for power have learned that the best way to rule is by manipulating religion by twisting those values to serve their own ends,” Abdul-Jabbar said. “So many of the so-called teachings are perversions of the theology, which is why every religion has atrocities committed in its name. Most Muslims want the same thing every other American wants: freedom, safety, prosperity.”

All of which some believe those around Abdul-Jabbar believe has sparked positive change.

“He paved the way for these young guys now,” Thompson said. “It’s good he’s involved and lending his words of wisdom.”

Abdul-Jabbar has supported San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick for kneeling during the national anthem to protest racial inequalities, saying “he started a national dialogue and inspired many other people to find their voices and to take action.” Abdul-Jabbar also praised NBA stars Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Paul for decrying violence between law enforcement and black people at the ESPY awards.

“It’s gratifying to see athletes being redefined from dumb or violent jocks to concerned members of their communities with a social conscience,” Abdul-Jabbar said. “It’s important that athletes be familiar with the issues before choosing sides and making pronouncements because being uninformed and taking a stance can be harmful. But once you’re sure you know what you’re talking about, step up and be heard.”

Abdul-Jabbar has done that through his words, actions and writing, delivering something perhaps just as effective and powerful as his unstoppable skyhook.

Mark Medina has been the Lakers beat writer for the Los Angeles Daily News since 2012. He also works as a Lakers insider for AM570 and is heard on national radio outlets, including The Dan Patrick Show, The Herd with Colin Cowherd, The Chris Mannix Show, Fox Sports Radio, CBS Sports Radio, Yahoo! Sports Radio and SB Nation Radio. Medina also appears frequently on Spectrum SportsNet and NBC4's "Going Roggin."